System to secure a patio umbrella to a table

ABSTRACT

A system to secure a patio umbrella to a table, the system including a band clamp having a band, the band clamp including a handle disposed on a surface of the band, and a sliding portion disposed within the band to reciprocally move inside the band in response to a manipulation of the handle to reduce or expand a circumference of the band clamp, and a patio umbrella fastener disposed below the band clamp to be inserted into a table aperture of a patio table and to receive a pole of a patio umbrella therein, such that the patio umbrella is stabilized.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present general inventive concept relates generally to a patio umbrella, and particularly, to system to secure a patio umbrella to a table.

2. Description of the Related Art

Relaxing on the patio is a popular pastime. Activities can include playing games and/or hosting a barbecue.

Patio umbrellas are extremely useful terrace accessories as they provide shade from the sun, protection from the rain, and help to form a comfortable micro-climate atmosphere underneath the canopy. Whether they are used in conjunction with a table or on their own, many umbrellas improve ambience and signify places of serenity. However, managing to keep them properly weighted down can be difficult.

Therefore, there is a need for a system for securing patio umbrellas to the table.

SUMMARY

The present general inventive concept provides a system to secure a patio umbrella to a table.

Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a system to secure a patio umbrella to a table, the system including a band clamp having a band, the band clamp including a handle disposed on a surface of the band, and a sliding portion disposed within the band to reciprocally move inside the band in response to a manipulation of the handle to reduce or expand a circumference of the band clamp, and a patio umbrella fastener disposed below the band clamp to be inserted into a table aperture of a patio table and to receive a pole of a patio umbrella therein, such that the patio umbrella is stabilized.

The patio umbrella fastener may further include a top portion to receive the band clamp, and a bottom portion having a plurality of abrasive strips disposed thereon to prevent the patio umbrella fastener from movement in response to an external force when the bottom portion is in the table aperture.

The patio umbrella fastener may form a tapered edge to fit into any size of the table aperture.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a system to secure a patio umbrella to a table, the system including a band clamp having a band, the band clamp including a handle disposed on a surface of the band, and a sliding portion disposed within the band to reciprocally move inside the band in response to a manipulation of the handle to reduce or expand a circumference of the band clamp, and a patio umbrella fastener to be inserted into a table aperture of a patio table to receive a pole of a patio umbrella, the patio umbrella fastener including a top portion, including a gasket disposed on a surface of the top portion to prevent the patio umbrella fastener from falling through the table aperture, and a bottom portion having a plurality of external threads.

A washer may be affixed to the bottom portion to secure the patio umbrella fastener to the patio table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features and utilities of the present generally inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a side view of a clamp in an open position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of the clamp in a closed position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 1C illustrates a top view of the clamp in the open position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 1D illustrates a top view of the clamp in the closed position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a patio umbrella fastener, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a patio umbrella fastener, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various example embodiments (a.k.a., exemplary embodiments) will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thicknesses of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description.

It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein.

FIG. 1A illustrates a side view of a band clamp 110 in an open position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of the band clamp 110 in a closed position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

FIG. 1C illustrates a top view of the band clamp 110 in the open position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

FIG. 1D illustrates a top view of the band clamp 110 in the closed position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a patio umbrella fastener 120, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

The system 100 may be constructed from at least one of metal, plastic, wood, and rubber, etc., but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1A through 2, the system 100 may include the band clamp 110 and the patio umbrella fastener 120, but is not limited thereto.

Although, the band clamp 110 is illustrated to be a band type clamp, the band clamp 110 may be at least one of a hose clamp, an ear clamp, and a kant-twist clamp, etc., but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1A through 1D, the band clamp 110 may include a first end 110 a, a second end 110 b, an aperture 110 c, a band 111, and a handle 112, but is not limited thereto.

The band 111 may include an outer surface 111 a, an inner surface 111 b, a sliding portion 111 c, and a receiving end 111 d, but is not limited thereto.

The handle 112 may include a bar 112 a, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1A through 1D, the band clamp 110 is illustrated to have a cylindrical shape. However, the band clamp 110 may be rectangular, rectangular prism, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or any other shape known to one of ordinary skill in the art, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1C, the handle 112 may be disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface 111 a of the band 111. The bar 112 a may be disposed within at least a portion of an interior of the band 111. A width of the sliding portion 111 c may be smaller than a width of the band 111. Additionally, a first side of the bar 112 a may be connected to the handle 112 and a second side of the bar 112 a may be connected to the sliding portion 111 c. Moreover, the handle 112 may be oriented toward the first end 110 a. As such, the band clamp 110 may be considered in the open position.

Referring to FIGS. 1B and 1D, a user may grasp the handle 112 and push and/or pull the handle 112 toward the second end 110 b, such that the handle 112 is coplanar with the band 111. The movement of the handle 112 may move the bar 112 a, such that the sliding portion 111 c is move inward toward the receiving end 111 d. As such, the sliding portion 111 c may be retracted into the receiving end 111 d of the band 111. As such, the band clamp 110 may be considered in the closed position. Furthermore, a circumference of the band clamp 110 in the closed position may be smaller with respect to the band clamp 110 in the open position. In other words, the circumference of the band clamp 110 may be reduced in response to the sliding portion 111 c moving inside the band in response to a manipulation of the handle 112.

The patio umbrella fastener 120 may include a first end 120 a, a second end 120 b, an aperture 120 c, a top portion 121, and a bottom portion 122, but is not limited thereto.

The bottom portion 122 may include an intermediary surface 122 a, a plurality of smooth strips 122 b, and a plurality of abrasive strips 122 c, but is not limited thereto.

The plurality of abrasive strips 122 c may include rubber, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 2, the bottom portion 122 may form a tapered edge beginning from the intermediary surface 122 a and terminating at the second end 120 b of the patio umbrella fastener 120. A circumference of the top portion 121 may be substantially less than a circumference of the bottom portion 122.

The user may insert the patio umbrella fastener 120 by directing the second end 120 b toward a table aperture 20 a of a patio table 20 until the second end 120 b protrudes therefrom. Subsequently, the user may insert a pole 10 of a patio umbrella into the aperture 120 c beginning at the first end 120 a until the pole 10 protrudes from the second end 120 b. In other words, the patio umbrella fastener 120 may receive the pole 10 at the first end 120 a via the aperture 120 c and the pole 10 may be manipulated to protrude from the second end 120 b. The top portion 121 may stabilize the pole 10. A diameter of the top portion 121 may be at least near and/or the same as a predetermined diameter of the pole 10. As such, the pole 10 may snugly fit within the top portion 121 of the patio umbrella fastener 120.

The specific shape of the bottom portion 122 of the patio umbrella fastener 120 forming the tapered edge may enable the bottom portion 122 to snugly fit into any size of the table aperture 20 a. The plurality of abrasive strips 122 c may be disposed on at least a portion of the bottom portion 122. Furthermore, the plurality of abrasive strips 122 c may enhance a grip of the bottom portion 122 within the table aperture 20 a. Specifically, the plurality of abrasive strips 122 c may prevent the patio umbrella fastener 120 from movement in response to an external force, such as wind. Conversely, the plurality of smooth strips 122 b may reduce the grip of the bottom portion 122 within the table aperture 20 a, such that the patio umbrella fastener 120 slides out in response to the user pushing and/or pulling the patio umbrella fastener 120 out of the table aperture 20 a away from the patio table 20.

Referring to FIGS. 1A through 2, the user may place the band clamp 110 over the top portion 121 of the patio umbrella fastener 120 prior to inserting the pole 10 into the patio umbrella fastener 120. Thereafter, the user may lift the band clamp 110, such that at least a portion of the inner surface 111 b of the band clamp 110 covers at least a portion of the pole 10 and at least a portion of the top portion 121 of the patio umbrella fastener 120. In other words, at least a portion of the top portion 121 of the patio umbrella fastener 120 and at least a portion of the pole 10 may receive at least a portion of the inner surface 111 b of the band clamp 110 thereon. Subsequently, the user may close the band clamp 110 to secure the pole 10 to the patio umbrella fastener 120.

The patio umbrella fastener 120 may be used when the user cannot reach a bottom of the patio table 20. Moreover, the combination of the band clamp 110 and the umbrella fastener 120 may increase stability that a conventional patio umbrella stand, alone, does not offer. Specifically, the combination of the band clamp 110 and the umbrella fastener 120 may prevent the patio umbrella from falling.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a patio umbrella fastener 220, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

The system 200 may be constructed from at least one of metal, plastic, wood, and rubber, etc., but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 3, the system 200 may include the band clamp 110 and the patio umbrella fastener 220, but is not limited thereto.

The patio umbrella fastener 220 may include a first end 220 a, a second end 220 b, an aperture 220 c, a top portion 221, a bottom portion 222, a gasket 223, and a washer 224, but is not limited thereto.

The bottom portion 222 may include a plurality of external threads 222 a. The plurality of external threads 222 a may be disposed on an outer surface of the bottom portion 222.

The user may insert the patio umbrella fastener 220 by directing the second end 220 b toward the table aperture 20 a of the patio table 20 until the second end 220 b protrudes therefrom. The gasket 223 may be disposed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the top portion 221. The gasket 223 may have an outer circumference greater than a circumference of the top portion 221. Moreover, a diameter of the gasket 223 may be substantially larger than a diameter of the table aperture 20 a. As such, the patio umbrella fastener 220 may not fall through the table aperture 20 a. Furthermore, the user may affix and/or adhere the washer 224 to the bottom portion 222. Specifically, the washer 224 may include a plurality of inward threads (not illustrated). The plurality of inward threads of the washer 224 corresponds to the plurality of external threads 222 a on the bottom portion 222. As such, the user may rotate the washer 224 in at least one direction, such that the washer 224 moves along the bottom portion 222 toward the patio table 20. That washer 224 may stop movement after contacting the patio table 20. As such, the patio umbrella fastener 220 may be securely affixed and/or adhered to the patio table 20.

Subsequently, the user may insert the pole 10 into the aperture 220 c beginning at the first end 220 a until the pole 10 protrudes from the second end 220 b. In other words, the patio umbrella fastener 220 may receive the pole 10 at the first end 220 a via the aperture 220 c and the pole 10 may be manipulated to protrude from the second end 220 b. The top portion 221 may stabilize the pole 10. A diameter of the top portion 221 may be at least near and/or the same as a predetermined diameter of the pole 10. As such, the pole 10 may snugly fit within the top portion 221 of the patio umbrella fastener 220.

Referring to FIGS. 1A through 1D and 3, the user may place the band clamp 110 over the top portion 221 of the patio umbrella fastener 220 prior to inserting the pole 10 into the patio umbrella fastener 220. Thereafter, the user may lift the band clamp 110, such that at least a portion of the inner surface 111 b of the band clamp 110 covers at least a portion of the pole 10 and at least a portion of the top portion 221 of the patio umbrella fastener 220. In other words, at least a portion of the top portion 221 of the patio umbrella fastener 220 and at least a portion of the pole 10 may receive at least a portion of the inner surface 111 b of the band clamp 110 thereon. Subsequently, the user may close the band clamp 110 to secure the pole 10 to the patio umbrella fastener 220.

The patio umbrella fastener 220 may be used when the user has easy access to the bottom of the patio table 20. Moreover, the combination of the band clamp 110 and the umbrella fastener 220 may increase stability that a conventional patio umbrella stand, alone, does not offer. Specifically, the combination of the band clamp 110 and the umbrella fastener 220 may prevent the patio umbrella from falling.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A system to secure a patio umbrella to a table, the system comprising: a band clamp having a band, the band clamp comprising: a handle disposed on a surface of the band, and a sliding portion disposed within the band to reciprocally move inside the band in response to a manipulation of the handle to reduce or expand a circumference of the band clamp; and a patio umbrella fastener disposed below the band clamp to be inserted into a table aperture of a patio table and to receive a pole of a patio umbrella therein, such that the patio umbrella is stabilized.
 2. The system to secure a patio umbrella to a table of claim 1, wherein the patio umbrella fastener further comprises: a top portion to receive the band clamp; and a bottom portion having a plurality of abrasive strips disposed thereon to prevent the patio umbrella fastener from movement in response to an external force when the bottom portion is in the table aperture.
 3. The system to secure a patio umbrella to a table of claim 1, wherein the patio umbrella fastener forms a tapered edge to fit into any size of the table aperture.
 4. A system to secure a patio umbrella to a table, the system comprising: a band clamp having a band, the band clamp comprising: a handle disposed on a surface of the band, and a sliding portion disposed within the band to reciprocally move inside the band in response to a manipulation of the handle to reduce or expand a circumference of the band clamp; and a patio umbrella fastener to be inserted into a table aperture of a patio table to receive a pole of a patio umbrella, the patio umbrella fastener comprising: a top portion, comprising: a gasket disposed on a surface of the top portion to prevent the patio umbrella fastener from falling through the table aperture, and a bottom portion having a plurality of external threads.
 5. The system to secure a patio umbrella to a table of claim 4, wherein a washer is affixed to the bottom portion to secure the patio umbrella fastener to the patio table. 